A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA TO EXPAND NURSING AND HEALTH CARE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of forty-three thousand dollars ($43,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to fund temporary space for the Elizabeth City State University Pharmacy Program.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to fund indigent care reimbursement for East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine. This funding will partially compensate the School for the cost of providing significant levels of service to uninsured patients.
SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of five million three hundred thirty‑one thousand five hundred six dollars ($5,331,506) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to be allocated as follows:
(1)	$3,731,506 to fund Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Expansion.
(2)	$1,000,000 to fund the establishment of a new Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in Elizabeth City.
(3)	$600,000 to fund an expansion of Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) to improve and expand nursing clinical education.
SECTION 4.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to fund translational medical research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
SECTION 5.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to fund the Center for Acquisition of Spoken Language Through Listening Enrichment (CASTLE) within the Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to expand this program.
SECTION 6.(a)	G.S. 90‑171.61 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑171.61.  Nursing Scholars Program established; administration.
(a)	There is established the Nursing Scholars Program. The North Carolina Nursing Scholars Commission shall determine selection criteria, methods of selection, and shall select recipients of scholarship loans made under the Nursing Scholars Program.
(b)	The Nursing Scholars Program shall be used to provide the following:
(1)	Scholarship loans in amounts of up to six thousand five hundred dollars ($6,500) per year, for each scholarship of no more than four years per recipient, to North Carolina residents interested in preparing to become  registered nurses through associate or baccalaureate degree programs or through diploma programs.
			
(5)	Scholarship loans of six thousand five hundred dollars ($6,500) per year, per recipient, for two years of study leading to a master of science in nursing degree for residents already holding a baccalaureate degree in nursing.
In awarding scholarship loans  pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (5) of this subsection, the Commission may award pro rata scholarship loans to recipients enrolled at least half‑time in study to become a registered nurse or to attain a master of science in nursing degree. In awarding all scholarship loans, the Commission shall give priority to full‑time students over part‑time students. The State Education Assistance Authority shall adopt specific rules to regulate scholarship loans to part‑time  nursing students.
Within current funds available or with any additional funds provided by the General Assembly for this purpose, the Commission may set aside slots for scholarship loans prescribed by  subdivision (1) of this subsection to enable licensed practical nurses to become registered nurses. The State Education Assistance Authority shall adopt specific rules to regulate these scholarship loans.
(b1)	If a recipient is awarded a scholarship loan under this program and is enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in a baccalaureate nursing program, but is unable to pursue the course of study in nursing for a semester due to limited faculty resources at the institution for that semester, then the recipient shall continue to receive the scholarship loan for that semester and shall not be required to forfeit or repay the scholarship loan for that semester provided that the recipient remains otherwise eligible for the program. This waiver shall be valid for only one semester of study and may extend a recipient's eligibility for funding under the program by no more than one semester.
(c)	The Commission shall adopt stringent standards, which may include minimum grade point average, scholastic aptitude test scores, and other standards deemed appropriate by the Commission, to ensure that only the best potential students receive and retain loans under the Nursing Scholars Program. Standards adopted by the Commission shall include provisions for ensuring that the qualifications of applicants who are or would be nontraditional students are considered fairly in providing them with opportunities to compete for the loans. Loans under the Nursing Scholars Program shall be awarded only to applicants who meet the standards set by the Commission and who agree to practice nursing in North Carolina upon completion of the nursing education program supported by the loan.
(d)	The Commission shall develop and administer the Nursing Scholars Program in cooperation with nursing schools at institutions approved by the Commission and the North Carolina Board of Nursing. The Nursing Scholars Program shall provide for participants to be exposed to a range of extracurricular activities while in school, which activities shall be aimed at instilling in students a strong motivation to remain in the practice of nursing and to provide leadership for the nursing profession.
(e)	The Commission may form regional review committees within North Carolina to assist it in identifying the best high school seniors and other applicants for the program. The Commission and the review committees shall make an effort to identify and encourage minority students and students who may not otherwise consider a career in nursing to apply for the Nursing Scholars Program.
(f)	Upon the naming of recipients of loans from the Nursing Scholars Program, the Commission shall inform the State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA) of its decisions. The SEAA shall perform all of the administrative functions necessary to implement this Article, which functions shall include: rule‑making, dissemination of information to the public, distribution and receipt of applications for scholarship loans, and the functions necessary for the execution, payment, and enforcement of promissory notes required under this Article."
SECTION 6.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of two million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($2,750,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to fund an expansion of the Nursing Scholars Program. This funding will increase awards for the Nursing Scholars Program from five thousand dollars ($5,000) to six thousand five hundred dollars ($6,500) per year, to begin to include masters degree students and to increase the current number of awards.
SECTION 7.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to fund the Graduate Nurse Scholarship Program. This program would fund up to two years of study for a masters degree student and up to three years of study for a doctoral degree student.
SECTION 8.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of three million six hundred fourteen thousand three hundred sixty-five dollars ($3,614,365) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to fund the clinical component of nursing and to hire more clinical faculty.
SECTION 9.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of eight hundred fifty thousand dollars ($850,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to fund new Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs at Fayetteville State University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a new Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Appalachian State University.
SECTION 10.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2006.  Subsection (a) of Section 6 of this act shall apply to all scholarship loans awarded or renewed on or after that date.